Li Hong was furious.

He repeatedly instructed Zheng Xin to pay close attention to Chu Feiyan's movements on the west bank of Juma Water, but he still secretly ran over to others, and only found out under his nose.

He opened his mouth to scold, but when he saw Zheng Xin's annoyed look, he couldn't scold.

He slammed the round shield in his hand to the ground, and then he was angry, and then flew up and kicked the round shield into the air.

"Order the troops, immediately withdraw in the direction of the Jiuli River, and evacuate at full speed."

"Take all the wounded soldiers, and don't leave any of them behind."

The rapid sound of the bull's horn burst into the sky.

The cavalry warriors who were gathering in various places suddenly increased their speed, and everyone ran towards the groves on both sides as if they were being chased by hornets.

"Zishan, Zishan ......"

Yan Liang flew over.

"You and Arc Ding, abandon Shen immediately take the black panther and rush to the direction of Jiuli Pavilion to delay the enemy's marching speed."

"My lord, then you ......" Yan Liang hesitated for a moment, thinking that I am your guard, and at this time you told me to run around, right?

Of course, Li Hong understood what he meant, and immediately scolded hatefully: "Which time did you fight by my side? I helped you get that knife back. , be careful yourself. ”

Yan Liang happily agreed, turned around and ran away.

The Black Panther had already assembled and was preparing to withdraw to rest. After receiving the order, Arc Ding, Qi Shen and Yan Liang immediately took more than three hundred brothers and rushed away in the direction of Jiuli Pavilion while the night was dark.

Li Hong silently watched as the black panther disappeared into the woods in the distance.

"People, there's nothing to be angry about, our main goal has been achieved, and we have no choice but to withdraw our troops." Xian Yufu saw that his mood calmed down a little, walked up to him and said.

"Fluke." Li Hong turned his head and said with emotion: "If I am now leading the troops to rush the Yellow Turban Army's car formation, it will be difficult to withdraw in a short time. Once Chu Feiyan is blocked, the loss will be heavy. ”

Then he smiled and said, "Are you lucky, or are you lucky?" ”

Zheng Xin stood behind Xian Yufu and saw that Li Hong's mood had stabilized, and his uneasy heart was relaxed. He stayed with Li Hong for a long time, and knew that his temper was very big, but immediately the rain would pass and the sky would be clear, as if it had never happened.

"What luck do I have?" Zheng Xin asked strangely.

"I've told you this time and again, but you still haven't done it well. You're an old scout and should know the importance of this matter. Since we can secretly run to attack Colonel Zuo, of course Chu Feiyan can also secretly run to Jiuli River to attack us. This mistake is terrible, but it is indispensable. You didn't find out that Chu Feiyan's troops secretly crossed the river, I don't blame you, after all, the distance is too far. But Chu Feiyan's troops secretly sneaked to Jiuli Pavilion, and you found out that this is your responsibility. ”

"It's a fluke that we didn't get entangled with the enemy, and we were free to advance and retreat. Although the distance of Jiuli Pavilion is only five miles from us, we still have enough time to retreat. If we were in a fierce battle with the enemy, and you only sent the news now, wouldn't we be caught in the front and back of the enemy and flee in defeat? ”

"Because of the mistakes of your scouts, the troops were surrounded by the enemy and defeated, who will I kill if I don't kill you?"

Zheng Xin saw Li Hong's serious expression, and his heart suddenly trembled. Brothers return to brothers, if the battle is lost and many soldiers die, it seems that Li Hong will still kill himself mercilessly. Military law is ruthless.

"People, Chu Feiyan is quite good at using soldiers, this year, under his command, the Yellow Turban Army is attacking the city, invincible, invincible, sweeping Changshan, is a very powerful leader of the Yellow Turban Army. Zheng Junhou's subordinates all reconnoitred according to the normal method, and they may have been deceived by him. Xian Yufu immediately excused Zheng Xin.

Li Hong looked at Zheng Xin, this brother who lived and died with him for more than a year, after more than a year of great war, he was much more mature than when he was in Lu Longsai last year. Li Hong remembered the scene where the two jumped into the Lishui River and fled together, and then remembered the knife that died by the river, Wu Ba and other comrades-in-arms.

Li Hong felt a pain in his heart, and reluctantly squeezed out a few smiles and said to Zheng Xin: "Go and check." Pay attention next time. You're in luck today. ”

Zheng Xin hurriedly agreed, flew on his horse, and galloped away.

Li Hong helped Xian Yufu get on the horse. Xian Yufu saw that he didn't mean to get on the horse, and hurriedly asked, "Zimin, when are you leaving?" ”

Li Hong waved at him and said with a smile: "Brother Yu Xing, you go first, I'll wait for Zishan, Arc Ding and them come back, and go together." ”

Xian Yufu glanced at him, didn't say anything, and left.

Li Hong looked at the attendants, heralds, and horn soldiers standing on the side, and suddenly clapped his hands and shouted: "Let's scare Zhang Niujiao, what do you think?" ”

Everyone looked at him strangely, not knowing what he meant.

"Blow the trumpet, blow the trumpet. When Zhang Niujiao heard this, he must have been nervous. ”

More than a dozen people were amused by his expression, and their nervousness was immediately swept away.

The soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army waited for a long time, but did not see the enemy rushing down the hill, and they were all surprised. But the enemy's cavalry was so terrifying that everyone not only did not slack off, but became more vigilant.

The sky was quietly darkening while waiting, and the enemy on the opposite hill was slowly swallowed up by the night. It was another dark night.

Zhang Niujiao and Zuo Yan stood motionless on the river embankment, pricking up their ears to listen carefully to the movement in the darkness in the distance.

Suddenly, the horn sounded again.

The Yellow Turban soldier's heart was beating wildly. Zhang Niujiao and Zuo Yan also suddenly became nervous. Immediately, the two exchanged suspicious glances with each other. At this time, it was not the charge horn that sounded on the hill, but the alarm signal, which was dense and urgent. Then there was the loud noise of people shouting and neighing horses, and the sound of iron hooves of war horses fading away.

Could it be that the leopard suddenly withdrew?

Zuo Yan's face was overjoyed, and he shouted loudly: "Is it Chu Shuai's troops coming?" ”

Zhang Niujiao shook his head: "No." He was supposed to show up in the middle of the night. ”

Zuo Yan was suddenly a little deflated, and muttered, "Could it be that Zhang Baiqi is coming?" ”

"If they are slower, it is possible that the leopards will send another force to block them." Zhang Niujiao said with a deep groan.

But none of them knew what was going on, and at this time, Zhang Niujiao didn't dare to take the initiative. So, there is only waiting.

It's getting darker. At first, you could see dozens of steps away, but then you could only see a dozen steps.

Zuo Yan paced back and forth on the river embankment, very anxious. Zhang Niujiao was motionless, like a mountain.

Suddenly, there was a loud trumpet of the charge again from the hill, one after the other, mixed with the sound of messy horses' hooves.

Zuo Yan was startled and shouted: "Dashuai, the enemy has really attacked this time." ”

Zhang Niujiao shook his hand at him, and said with a solemn expression: "No." It was as if the Leopard Army had regrouped on the hill. ”

"Didn't our reinforcements come?" Zuo Yan asked disappointedly.

The long wait. Time passes very, very slowly.

The positions of the Yellow Turban Army were silent, and the battlefield was as silent as death. Occasionally, a few horses neighed softly in the night.

The horror of the night and the Leopard Army is deeply imprinted in the heart of every Yellow Turban soldier. Their eyes widened and they stared hard into the depths of the night. Even when they are in the car, they do not have the slightest sense of security.

Suddenly, the sound of war drums sounded in the dark night.

The drums of war were thick and fierce, crashing heavily into the darkness and spreading through the wilderness and the night sky.

The nerves of the soldiers, who were so tense that they almost collapsed, were suddenly stimulated, and they were almost suffocated as if they had been hit hard.

Zhang Niujiao frowned, his face extremely ugly. Zuo Yan gasped for breath, trying his best to calm the tension in his heart.

"Handsome ......"

Finally there was a loud shout in the night sky. It was a loud sound that could only be made by a dozen people shouting at the same time.

"Chu Shuai has arrived ......"

Zhang Niujiao's face was as pale as dirt, and he lowered his head in frustration.

Zuo Yan closed his eyes and shook his head vigorously, he felt that he was so weak that he could barely stand up. He hurriedly held the wheel behind him, supported his body, and sighed in the sky.

The Yellow Turban soldiers were stunned at first, and then they let out a loud bang as if they had blown up the camp, and the loud roar almost tore the night apart. The soldiers kept screaming, roaring, jumping, and letting the tears pour out. Many soldiers fell to their knees and wept bitterly. The tremendous pressure almost destroyed their will.

Zhang Niujiao was much thinner, his face was scorched, his eye sockets were deep, and he looked very haggard and exhausted.

Chu Feiyan's heart was sour, her eyes suddenly turned red, and tears almost rolled out.

He fell to his knees.

Zhang Niujiao walked over slowly, patted his lowered head, and a rare smile appeared on his face.

"You're early."

Chu Feiyan didn't make a sound, and went down to kowtow three times to Zhang Niujiao respectfully.

Zhang Niujiao did not block. When he finished saluting, Zhang Niujiao helped him up and continued:

"You're early."

Chu Feiyan smiled bitterly and said, "Dashuai, I met Zhang Shuai. ”

Zhang Niujiao raised his eyebrows, sneered, and asked lightly, "What about others?" And what about his troops? ”

Chu Feiyan took a step back, bowed down and said, "The handsome man is angry." I asked him to rush back to Dingxing Ferry and help Sun Shuai watch the grain and grass baggage. ”

Zhang Niujiao's face darkened, and he glanced at Zuo Yan beside him very painfully. Everything was as they expected, and Zhang Baiqi was wiped out. Chu Feiyan did not mention Zhang Baiqi's troops, but said that he let Zhang Baiqi go to the ferry, obviously because he was afraid that he would kill Zhang Baiqi in anger. Zhang Baiqi lost 20,000 people in the whole army and escaped alone, and was beheaded according to military law.

Zuo Yan's expression was gloomy, and he asked weakly, "Where was Zhang Shuai ambushed?" ”

"It's at the entrance of the Nine Mile Pavilion, about ten miles away. The remains of the soldiers killed on the battlefield have not yet been buried. Chu Feiyan said in a low voice, "Zhang Shuai was worried about the safety of the marshal, and urged the soldiers to run for forty miles in a row, but the soldiers were physically exhausted, and they were ambushed by the leopard army, and the whole army was annihilated. ”

Zhang Niujiao snorted coldly, and said angrily: "So you also worry about my safety and run all the way." ”

Chu Feiyan looked at the horns, didn't dare to make a sound, and lowered her head.

"Am I so incompetent? Won't I stay up until midnight? The annihilation of Zhang Baicai's entire army does not affect our strategy, why are you in such a hurry to come so that you fall short? ”

"Look at the battlefield, tens of thousands of people died in vain, why did you do this?"

Zhang Niujiao waved his hands excitedly, furious. Zuo Yan hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Niujiao, and whispered two words of persuasion.

Zuo Yan already knew Zhang Niujiao's strategy in the afternoon. Although he did not agree with Zhang Niujiao's risky tactics, he still admired Zhang Niujiao's use of troops.

Zhang Niujiao wanted to eliminate Li Hong, so he set a trap and deliberately divided the army into two groups to retreat, inducing Li Hong to attack. Secretly, he secretly recruited Chu Feiyan's troops to secretly rush to the retreat route to ambush, which was also near the Jiuli River. This is the middle of the retreat route, and it can be taken into account both before and after.

Li Hong attacked any one, as long as he was entangled for two or three hours, the other two roads could arrive in time, and the cavalry surrounding him would be surrounded and annihilated. They also considered that Zhang Baiqi might not be able to withstand the blow of the iron cavalry and was quickly defeated. So they still have a hand.

When Li Hong turned to attack Zhang Niujiao with all his might, not guarding his back at all, Chu Feiyan led his army to arrive quietly in the middle of the night. At this time, whether the two sides were fighting, or Li Hong's cavalry surrounded Zhang Niujiao, Li Hong was going to suffer a fatal blow. Even if Li Hong didn't die, there would be very few cavalry left.

This was originally a strange plan with no loopholes, but because Chu Feiyan ignored the order and worried about the safety of the handsome, he hurried over, but the traces were exposed, and when the night was approaching, Li Hong was scared away. Falling short.

Zhang Niujiao's heart aches. The 20,000 people Zhang Bai rode and the 15,000 or 6,000 people on his side all died in vain because of Chu Feiyan's early action. If Chu Feiyan was not brought up by him, he really doubted that Chu Feiyan did it on purpose.

His troops, Chu Feiyan's troops, and Yang Feng's troops were the main force of the Yellow Turban Army, and his troops were the largest in number, about 120,000 people. Now his troops have 30,000 people in addition to Wang Dang, who guards the mountain country, and there are only 10,000 people left in his grandson's hands, and more than 10,000 people in his own hands, and the rest are all buried in Zhuo County. His army now has only more than 50,000 men, and its strength has been greatly reduced. In the Yellow Turbans, the weight of his words is now greatly reduced. Without strength, who will listen to you.

He led 150,000 people to attack Youzhou, and now only about 30,000 people remain, and the rest of the nearly 120,000 people are all killed. There were 30,000 people in the left school department, 30,000 people in the Huanglong department, and more than 60,000 people under his own subordinates all died in battle, and they were defeated, which was basically the annihilation of the whole army. Now there are more than 20,000 people in his hands, and 10,000 people in the old Huanglong army, which is all of the Northern Expeditionary Army.

If you can eliminate Li Hong's Leopard Army before withdrawing, it can be regarded as revenge, save a little face for yourself, and basically destroy Youzhou's army, which will be a huge benefit for attacking Youzhou next year.

However, all came to naught. His strategy failed completely, not only did he not destroy the Leopard Army, but suffered even greater losses, not only did the troops lose all their face, but his position as the leader of the Yellow Turban Army also became precarious with the failure of this northern expedition. Now, even if the other leaders of the Yellow Turban Army don't mention it, he feels shameless and continues to sit in this position.

Chu Feiyan fell to his knees again.

Zhang Niujiao slowly calmed down.

On the hills, in the valleys, and on the embankments, the Yellow Turban soldiers lit hundreds of bonfires, one for lighting and the other for warmth. After the first joy, the soldiers began to clean the battlefield and bury the remains of their comrades.

"Swallow, tell me, why?" Zhang Niujiao asked softly.

Chu Feiyan was in a heavy mood and had nothing to say. What can he say? On the way, he also thought of this possibility. Li Hong ran away, the soldiers died in vain, the commander was in trouble, and the Yellow Turban Army would also be in trouble because of the problem of the commander. But he had a very stubborn thought in his heart, he wanted to rescue Dashuai.

Li Hong's power is not something that anyone can predict, and all those who despise him are now dead and defeated. The reason why the strategy formulated by the marshal was risky was because he speculated about Li Hong with his own ideas, that is, he still thought that Li Hong was not a strong enough opponent in his heart. Despising opponents often leads to tragic deaths, so Chu Feiyan is very worried.

What if Li Hong kills Dashuai? How will he face the hundreds of thousands of soldiers of the Yellow Turban Army, and how will he face the spirit of the horns in the sky. At that time, even if the raid was successful, what was the point of killing Li Hong? The Yellow Turban Army will immediately fall apart, just like Zhang Jiao's sudden death last year, history will repeat itself again, and fate will once again play a trick on the Yellow Turban Army.

So after listening to Zhang Baiqi's words, he didn't say a word, and immediately led the troops to rush to the Jiuli River. Even if he dies, he must rescue Zhang Niujiao, because in his heart, Zhang Niujiao is his second father.

Things in the world are so unexpected. No matter how much you think and how much you do, it often ends up being a matter of one sentence.

"Why?" Zhang Niujiao saw that he had been kneeling there, not saying a word, like an idiot, and finally couldn't help it and yelled loudly.

"Tens of thousands of brothers are dead, don't you even have a word?"

Chu Feiyan couldn't hold back any longer, and tears burst out of her eyes.

He raised his head, used all his strength, and shouted, "Daddy......"

"Dad...... I just want to save you, I just want to save you. I don't want you to die, I don't want you to die......"

Zhang Niujiao's eyes widened for a moment.

He looked at Chu Feiyan in surprise, and tears immediately welled up.

Li Hong stood in the dark night, looking at the fire on the Jiuli River, silently thinking about his thoughts.

Yan Liang took Li Hong's cowhide and walked over lightly.

"My lord, it's cold at night, so let's rest early."

Li Hong wrapped the cowhide tightly and smiled: "Thank you." Zishan, go to sleep. ”

"Adults still don't sleep?"

Li Hong looked at the fire in the distance, and suddenly asked, "Zishan, what do you say Zhang Niujiao is doing now?" ”

"Sleep." Yan Liang blurted out: "He's tired all day, of course he's going to sleep." ”

"He must not be sleeping right now." A voice in the darkness laughed.

Xian Yufu and Tian Zhong walked over.

"I heard that the adults beat the Yellow Turban Army and fled, but is it true?" Tian Zhong joked with a smile.

Li Hong laughed. Yan Liang was a little embarrassed to step aside.

"Zimin, is it important for you whether Zhang Niujiao sleeps or not?" Xian Yufu asked casually.

"He slept, which means that he has figured it out and goes directly back to Zhongshan Kingdom. didn't sleep, which shows that he still has thoughts about Zhuojun. However, Zhang Niujiao is really powerful, and he is willing to use the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers to beat my Fengyun Iron Cavalry. Originally, he was bound to win, if Chu Feiyan rushed to Jiulihe now, we would be dead. But why is the timing of Chu Feiyan's appearance so inappropriate? ”

Li Hong frowned, shook his head and asked very puzzled.

"If he still has thoughts about Zhuojun, wouldn't it be very troublesome for us?" Tian Zhong said: "Now that we have so few troops, how can we attack the city?" ”

Li Hong laughed for a long time.

"There is no need to attack the city, I also have a way to drive them out of Youzhou."